tornado

American  

[tawr-ney-doh] / tɔrˈneɪ doʊ /

noun

plural

tornadoes, tornados

1. Meteorology. a potentially violent and destructive system of atmospheric circulation, characterized by a long, funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground and made visible by condensation and debris: although tornadoes have occurred on all continents except Antarctica, they are most common in the United States, especially in the area known as Tornado Alley.

2. Meteorology. a violent squall or whirlwind of small extent, as one of those occurring during the summer on the west coast of Africa.

3. a violent outburst, as of emotion or activity.

   The weekly tornado has arrived—in the form of my three grandchildren and their two dogs.

4. Military. Tornado, a supersonic, two-seat, multipurpose military aircraft produced jointly by West Germany, Britain, and Italy and capable of flying in darkness and bad weather.

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tornado British  

/ tɔːˈneɪdəʊ, tɔːˈnædɪk /

noun

1. Also called: cyclone.   twister.  a violent storm with winds whirling around a small area of extremely low pressure, usually characterized by a dark funnel-shaped cloud causing damage along its path

2. a small but violent squall or whirlwind, such as those occurring on the West African coast

3. any violently active or destructive person or thing

4. (often capital) a type of dinghy, designed to be crewed by two people

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tornado Scientific  

/ tôr-nā′dō /

1. A violently rotating column of air extending from a cumulonimbus cloud to the Earth, ranging in width from a few meters to more than a kilometer and whirling at speeds between 64 km (40 mi) and 509 km (316 mi) per hour or higher with comparable updrafts in the center of the vortex. The vortex may contain several smaller vortices rotating within it. Tornadoes typically take the form of a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud extending downward from storm clouds, often reaching the ground, and dissolving into thin, ropelike clouds as the tornado dissipates. Tornadoes may travel from a few dozen meters to hundreds of kilometers along the ground. Tornadoes usually form in the tail end of violent thunderstorms, with weaker funnels sometimes forming in groups along a leading squall line of an advancing cold front or in areas near a hurricane. The strongest tornadoes, which may last several hours and travel hundreds of kilometers, can cause massive destruction in a relatively narrow strip along their path. The causes of tornado formation are not well understood.

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tornado Cultural  

1. In meteorology, a storm in which high-speed winds move in a funnel-shaped pattern.

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Discover More

Tornadoes occur chiefly during thunderstorms.

Tornadoes are common in the Middle West.

If the tip of the funnel touches the ground, it can cause extensive damage.

Other Word Forms

• tornadic adjective
• tornado-like adjective
• tornadolike adjective

Etymology

Origin of tornado

First recorded in 1550–60; apparently by metathesis from Spanish tronada “thunderstorm,” noun use of feminine of tronado, past participle of tronar, from Latin tonāre “to thunder”; replacing 16th-century ternado, with unexplained e

Explanation

A tornado is a violent windstorm in the shape of a funnel cloud that reaches to the ground. If a tornado is coming, you’ll want to take cover. A tornado can be quite severe and leave a lot of destruction in its wake, Tornadoes (or tornados — either is correct) tend to occur more often and with more severity in areas over flat lands, such as the Great Plains. That Kansas “twister” in The Wizard of Oz is a famous example of a tornado. Tornado is sometimes used to describe someone or something that acts like a tornado — with intense, violent energy or emotion.

Example Sentences

In Michigan, the Branch County sheriff's department said three people were killed and 12 others were injured near Union City after a tornado hit on Friday.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

After software stocks fell on fears that AI would render those firms’ offerings obsolete, the tornado swept through other supposedly vulnerable sectors, notably financial services, commercial real estate, trucking, and logistics.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

After software stocks fell on fears that AI would render those firms’ offerings obsolete, the tornado swept through other supposedly vulnerable sectors, notably financial services, commercial real estate, trucking, and logistics.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

The album started with quiet wind and then turned into a tornado of thunder and sirens, swordplay and gunfire over big horns and a funky soul backbeat.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 25, 2026

Each boy is a walking, breathing, talking tornado.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• twister
• whirlwind
• windstorm